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Emigration higher than any time since 1800s while department underspends by €85m: Tóibín

The CSO today released the latest Live Register and unemployment figures. There has been no change in the levels of employment and the continual rise in the number of long term claimants, despite phenomenal increased levels of emigration. Speaking at the launch of the figures, Peadar Tóibín TD, Sinn Féin spokesperson for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said:“Today’s figures again demonstrate that government policy is a blizzard of spin. The figures speak for themselves. Shockingly today’s emigration levels are higher than at any time since the 1800s, long-term unemployment is steadily rising and the astronomical number of domestic business collapses continues to feed job losses and high unemployment. And yet this government refuses to change tack and put jobs as the number priority.“The figures underline this point. New Department of Finance figures demonstrate an underspend in the department of 17%. That is an under-spend of €16 million in job creation programmes and an astounding underspend of €69 million in capital spend at a time when skilled trades workers are on the dole or emigrating.“Sinn Féin has consistently demonstrated that another way is possible, that funds can be sourced to invest in the real economy and job creation. “It is now clear that the Ministers must take responsibility for their underperforming department and the government take responsibility for getting our people back to work.”